Avenida Retain ‘Croatian Pearl’ Rezan

Marija Rezan returns to Perfumerias Avenida, hoping she can play her first full season in blue

Perfumerias Avenida have re-signed Marija Rezan for a second season and are hoping the center will be able to hit the ground running this time around, after serious injury delayed her debut last year.

Instead of taking to the floor with her new team-mates when EuroLeague Women swung into action last October, Rezan was forced to wait on the sidelines until healthy and that meant making a belated debut against CCCPolkowice during December.

As she tried to catch up to the level of her colleagues, she grew stronger as time progressed, but her slow start and having to make those mid-season adjustments, meant she harvested a mediocre 5.3 points and 5.6 rebounds in the competition.

That was below the superb production she had previously recorded during prior seasons whilst playing with Gospic Croatia in her homeland.

However, Rezan, who celebrates her 24th birthday next week, did help Avenida land the Liga Femenina Championship.

And, having done enough to convince bosses she deserves another year, the club have expressed their desire to see the player they dub ‘The Croatian Pearl' shine brightly in her second season.

Rezan also recently participated for the national team at Eurobasket Women 2013 and recorded 8.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.